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Dáil

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Instruction to Committee

Summary

The motion empowers committee amendments on Invalidity Pension transfers, social welfare officials’ Garda interviews, and technical corrections to the Family Courts Act.

Dara Calleary Minister for Social Protection Fianna Fáil

I move:

That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development on the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025, that pursuant to Standing Order 194, the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill to provide that:

— Invalidity Pension is a pension that must be applied for and obtained before pensionable age, and for the transfer of the small number of persons aged over 66 years who are currently in receipt of Invalidity Pension to State Pension (Contributory);

— a Social Welfare Inspector or an Authorised Officer of the Department of Social Protection may, at the behest and invitation of An Garda Síochána, participate in the interview of a detained suspect regarding offences under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended); and

— corrections be made to minor typographical errors relating to sections 142A and 197 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 contained in Schedule 2 to the Family Courts Act 2024;

and to make other consequential amendments required to take account of the changes above.

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